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Why else is the NDP MP for Trinity-Spadina, and official opposition transportation critic, in Toronto on a chilly November day with her bike under the Gardiner Expressway talking about infrastructure?

Of course, anything can happen in the next two years before election day. Maybe she won’t go.

And maybe Mayor Rob Ford won’t even be the incumbent by then?

But this could be the battle for the top job that everybody is hoping for — a classic right versus left slugfest.

When it comes to Olivia challenging Boss Rob it all makes sense.

The former councillor — widow of former mayoral candidate and federal NDP opposition leader Jack Layton — would be a big-time name on the ballot to try to unseat Ford.

This potential was obvious way back in August when she told our own Don “Pistol” Peat it was not happening.

“Toronto is a beautiful place, Jack loved the city, loved the citizens and I’m so glad (Councillor Mike Layton) is now working here at City Hall and doing a fine job,” Chow told him before offering a blunt “No” to Pistol’s pointed question about a run for mayor.

A “no” means a lot of things in politics.

Relentless Pistol went down to her announcement Tuesday and gave it another shot.

Not a blunt “no” this time folks.

“I love this city, this is where I grew up and I’ve been hearing from more and more people about asking me to run,” Chow told him. “I’m listening to them. . . My job is to make sure we have a vibrant, sustainable city where no one is left behind.”

Oh boy. Start you’re engines folks. Or get out your bikes.

The race is on and here comes Chow up the back stretch. But actually, if you believe the polls from last summer, Chow is actually the front runner.

“A Forum Research poll conducted at the end of June found Chow would beat Ford in a two-way race,” wrote Pistol Peat in August. “Around 58% of the 1,212 Toronto residents polled said they would vote for Chow for mayor, while only 34% said they would vote for Ford.”

You know there will be some new polls soon.

“I would say that her poise and hard work ethic with the legacy she carries in Toronto, and awareness everywhere, is potent,” said Ipsos Reid Senior Vice-President John Wright.

She’s the dream leftist candidate.

“Here’s the situation,” said Wright. “Many may not like Ford’s style but he’s kept taxes low, done work to get the deficit down, got the garbage picked up, kept the police budget in check and, despite his wishes for subways, at least the TTC is modernizing.”

So if “the election becomes about style maybe it goes one way, but if it’s about keeping the lid on taxes it could go another way.”

Certainly, the contrast between the two ideologies is stark.

One would fight the Gravy Train and the other would add butter to it. Ford despises those who live off the public trough and Chow is a poster child of a politician who knows how to do it as well as anybody.

Past media accounts offer a record of Chow’s and late husband Layton’s $1.16 million in expenses, their once living in rent-controlled co-op housing and, of course, his $368,326 state funeral. If elected, you can bet those bike lanes being removed on Jarvis St. will probably be restored and expect a whole lot of other items on a leftist agenda.

But the coach himself is not exactly setting the world on fire with his continuous perceived goofy antics and poor judgement — examples include busgate, his conflict of interest case and his current libel case.

Both have their warts — but both are likeable.

Perhaps in two years, we will see which circus voters want to be entertained by.